American Legion Birthday to be celebrated worldwide,
March 11, on shortwave radio

Dear TALARC Members and Friends,

March 15 is the designated birthday of The American Legion. It is the day in 1919 when the first American Legion caucus, held by members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. Much as the birthday of the United States is celebrated on July 4 – for the day in 1776 when rebelling patriots declared the independence of the British colonies and the spirit of America was born – March 15 is the day on which the Legion came to life.

Each year, Legion posts across the country hold events – public, private or both – to commemorate this anniversary. At the National Headquarters of The American Legion there also is an event conducted annually to observe the Legion birthday, and on a worldwide scale.

Members of The American Legion Amateur Radio Club (TALARC) will operate a special event station to commemorate the Legion’s 98th birthday. Operating from the radio room at National Headquarters in Indianapolis, ham radio operators at club station K9TAL will celebrate the Legion’s 98 years of service to America’s veterans with both members and non-member amateur radio operators around the world on Saturday, March 11, 2017.

Ham radio operators wishing to contact Special Event Station K9TAL should tune to 40 meters: 7.225 MHz (+/- 5 KHz) LSB; or to 2 meters: K9DC 147.315 Repeater at Indianapolis; or IRLP Node 9735; or, to EchoLink *CROSSRDS* Conference node. All operations will be conducted on Saturday, March 11 between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time [1800Z to 2359Z]. All amateur radio operators are invited to check in. American Legion posts with TALARC stations are encouraged to check in from around the country.

A full-color certificate and QSL card will be sent to all amateur radio operators contacting K9TAL, and to shortwave listeners providing signal reports, upon receipt of a 9-by-12-inch self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Membership in The American Legion Amateur Radio Club is free to all licensed radio amateurs who are current members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/hamradio.